July 10

Dear Family and Friends,
Hello!

This week was more training and meetings for us. I think we are finally getting a big picture of our responsibilities so that is helpful. This week for our letter, I thought I'd try to describe what we are called to do as far as we understand.

I think the best way to explain is with an analogy. Elder Tucker and I are like the conductors of an orchestra - we keep the orchestra members in the Philippines technology callings on the same page and 'playing' together. We work with church Service Missionaries (those called to serve but live at home) throughout the Philippines. They are called Assistant Area Technologist Specialists and are each in charge of a designated area of stakes - these are our orchestra section leaders. Each stake and district is supposed to call a Stake Technology Specialist (there can also be assistants) - these are the ones who actually play the instruments in our orchestra. The stake specialists are to make sure all the technology in the meetinghouses are functioning properly and help with broadcasts and webcasts, etc. That's the big picture.

Right now in the Philippines we have only 11 assistants because of all the islands and distances, we need about 22. Kent and I will be visiting with Stake Presidents to see if we can get more assistants and to make sure they have stake specialists. We also support the assistants by attending and assisting with the training they do with the stake specialists, working with them to make sure equipment is working in their areas and whatever else we can do to help. We also work with the Facilities Managers in each area because they are the ones who install and also help with problems with the technology. We also have a yearly area meeting with the assistants to make sure they are trained in the technology and their responsibilities.

We work in an office most days with the Area Office technology people so we really don't HAVE to know all about technology because we have lots of people who can help us with that part. We need to meet our assistants and stake leaders to get technology functioning more smoothly in the many areas. We will be traveling to meet with these leaders and where we can't go, we will send letters, email, and communicate in other ways so that members throughout the Philippines can be connected to the church through broadcasts, webcasts, and other resources.

At first we thought it should be easy to do. On our first trip out of Manila, we realized there are many challenges. Internet connectivity is a big one. Travel is another. Many people don't have cars. Bus rides and train rides are long and crowded and usually require additional jeepney and tricycle rides. Many of our assistants are young with families and also have other callings such as YM presidents, Elders Quorum Presidents, and bishopric members. Some are working far from home because that's where they can get work. One assistant we finally contacted last Friday lives in Tacloban where they had an earthquake last week. He is working in Manila. When we asked about his family and the earthquake, he said his wife and son were fine. I asked if their home was damaged. He said no, it was already damaged and he didn't have money to fix it. He is also serving as Branch President so he will probably be released soon from being an AATS (Assistant Area Technology Specialist). Yet he and the others are all willing to serve. We learn so much from our 'orchestra' and we are grateful for each one.

Our theme for technology is "Hastening the Work Through Technology". There is much of the Lord's work that can be done through technology. Our work is to get everyone connected. There is a lot of work to do and we will need to travel to do it. Our first big trip is next week.

I have gained a deeper testimony of the divinity of the land of the restoration of the gospel. So much of what we take for granted in the U.S. is unknown to many other countries. Take, for example, the internet. The internet with glitches and problems was new when our children were little but now it is almost everywhere, usually goes smoothly, and almost as common as the air we breathe. We have been richly blessed. For this and so many other places in the world, it is not. Even though we know it is a huge part of the future, there is work to be done to get it where it needs to be to bring the church to the people. I think about how the church broadcasts and videos can bless lives if they can just access those things more easily. I've seen what a well planned church video can do for a YW lesson and hope that will be possible for these wonderful people too. The gospel can make such a huge difference in everyone's life. We are grateful to do whatever we can to help the gospel spread throughout the world.


Take care.
Love,
The Tuckers


The first 2 pictures are the kinds of technology hook ups we see. The first what we see more often, the second is from a stake center built just two years ago(the latest and greatest).
The other pictures are from the top of a hotel we went to in Old Manila. Another senior missionary couple took us to see the old walled city then to this hotel to take pictures. It had been raining so it's a bit misty. You'll see cranes on top of several buildings. Those are new high-rise apartment buildings being built.